Europe’s First Ever Mobile PET/CT launches in the UK

In keeping with their commitment to improve PET provision in the UK, Alliance Medical, the leading European provider of managed imaging services, has taken delivery of Europe’s first mobile PET/CT scanner. This new scanner builds upon Alliance Medical’s existing mobile PET service and strengthens their wide spectrum of PET solutions to help deliver equality of access to PET across the UK.

“Our existing mobile PET scanner is operating at full capacity so we know from experience that for many hospitals, mobile PET can work well as a low-risk solution to help build referral patterns. There has been heightened support for PET in the UK and we feel this is the right time to be offering this pioneering mobile PET/CT service.” Mike Pringle, Commercial Director – PET, Alliance Medical.

The mobile will be equipped with a GE Discovery ST - voted Aunt Minnie’s 2003 product of the year at RSNA. This system is optimised for oncology imaging and ensures high image quality with high sensitivity and fast throughput. With its large bore and short tunnel length patients feel less claustrophobia and radiologists have more flexibility for patient positioning.

“ The GE Discovery ST system and its advanced applications give clinicians more
diagnostic confidence, enabling them to accurately target disease and
appropriately prescribe therapy," said Pascale Witz, General Manager for Functional and Molecular Imaging in Europe, GE Medical Systems.

The trailer has been uniquely designed to overcome many of the issues that have previously prevented a mobile PET/CT solution. On-board dispensing facilities and a 2-bed patient preparation area have been built into the trailer, making the service available to any hospital that can receive FDG, from Cardiff to Manchester and Sheffield to Bournemouth.

The new PET/CT service will be available from February 2004 and Alliance Medical are looking forward to working with private and NHS hospitals to further develop PET/CT across the UK.

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For more information please contact:
Mike Pringle
Alliance Medical, Home Farm Drive, Upton, Nr Banbury, Oxon, OX15 6HU
Tel: 01295 671279
Email : mpringle@alliance.co.uk

Editors Notes
Formed in 1989, Alliance Medical Limited is Europe’s leading provider of managed healthcare imaging, operating more than 80 scanners, covering MRI, CT, PET/CT and PET.